Campaigners for peace in Gaza held a protest outside Dorchester County Hospital on the national workplace day of action, called by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.

The rally included health workers, local government workers, teachers and other trade unionists and school students.

They were demanding an end to the conflict in Gaza and an end to arms sales to Israel.

A consultant from the hospital described the suffering in Gaza and the destruction of the health infrastructure.

Becci Brookman, Branch Secretary of Dorset UNISON, representing local government workers told the rally: "Dorset Unison Branch fully supports the workplace day of action today.

"We are calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and for the UK government to apply international pressure to ensure access to essentials, such as food and medicines, to Gaza; to end all licences for arms supplies to Israel – and to immediately recognise the State of Palestine".

Jenny Lennon-Wood, secretary of the Dorset Trades Council spoke of the support from the trade union movement for the people of Palestine.

She said: "The Workplace Day of Action for Palestine is backed by the Trades Union Congress, which represents over 5.5 million workers.

"Dorset Trades Union Council strongly supports the TUC’s call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages and Palestinian political prisoners, and an end to the occupation of Palestinian territory.

"We urge Keir Starmer’s government to recognise the State of Palestine and end arms sales to Israel."

Rob Ferguson, secretary of Dorset Palestine Solidarity Campaign also criticised the position of the government for its support of Israel in the conflict with Hamas in Gaza.

He said:"We are witnessing a genocidal attack on the population of Gaza, livestreamed to millions across the world.

"The arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court against Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu and defence minister Yoav Gallant reflect the inescapable reality of their crimes, and the pressure of the mass international solidarity movement for Palestine.

"We demand that our government, Keir Starmer and David Lammy, recognise their obligations as signatories to the Rome Statute - the treaty that established the ICC, and support the arrest warrants issued by the ICC".